Toffee 1069 Popular Post Share Posted March 21, 2019 It has been a few days since the Christchurch terror attack— the first of its kind in New Zealand’s modern history. This tragedy in my city affected me in a way that I could never have expected, and cannot hope to explain. However, it did prompt me to consider what is truly important in life, and what is worth investing emotional energy in. As much as I enjoy roleplay as a hobby, it did not make the cut over continuing with my degree and spending time with my friends and whānau. In a world with such immense hatred and cruelty, it is communities and hobbies like this that have the potential to be sparks of light in the darkness. At its heart, LotC (and other MCRP communities like it) are supposed to be about collaborative literature. Creating a character, watching them grow, and creating stories with one another. It is supposed to be fun. I have some advice for LotC which I hope will help people to gain some true enjoyment from this medium, when in recent times they may have lost sight of what it’s truly supposed to be about. One: Take a step back Disentangle yourself from the feelings and experiences of your character. Our characters go through strife and hardship every day, whether that is through losing their belongings, arguing with a friend, making an enemy, or even dying. Just because your character experiences those things, does not mean it has to personally affect you. Take a breath, consider what is actually important, and try to realise that in a game, and in roleplay, everything is salvageable. It may take a little time, but items can be recovered, new characters can be made, and relationships can mend. Two: Identify what you want What are you seeking to get out of your time on LotC? What are your goals? Take a moment to think about what you truly desire from this medium, so that everything you do can be to work towards it. Some people often lose track of why they joined LotC in the first place, which lessens their enjoyment over time even if they don’t recognise it at first. If your goal and incentive for playing on this server is to gain notoriety, or create strife between individuals and groups, then you may need to rethink your motives and find something that will be beneficial not only to yourself, but to the people around you. Believe me, being friendly and trying to help others is far more rewarding in the long run than trying to beat your enemies or tear other people down. Three: Meme responsibly “It’s just a meme, don’t take it so personally” is no longer a valid excuse. Posting a derogatory meme opens you up for criticism, and you should either be prepared for that criticism and disapproval, or keep that sort of thing to yourself. In a medium that is about roleplay and having fun, there shouldn’t be any need for those kinds of jokes in the first place, however I recognise that it is considered humour to some people. No matter who you are, consider if what you’re posting is relevant, necessary, and kind. If it isn’t, but you decide to post it anyway, you forfeit the right to complain when other people call you out for having poor taste. Four: Roleplay! Yes, that is what LotC was designed for! First of all, you should find your niche. What do you enjoy playing? What do you find interesting? For me, it was healing. For you, it could be any number of things, and with the huge diversity that LotC has to offer in terms of play styles and roleplay niches, you can almost certainly find what you are looking for. If not, create it yourself! Your character doesn’t have to last forever, and every interaction doesn’t have to hugely impact on their development and story. However, you should endeavour to give them some kind of goal, or calling, that means you are moving forward with momentum. If you want to get better at roleplay, I have three tips. 1) Roleplay with good roleplayers. Learn from them, take them as role models, adopt a similar emote style to them and then gradually evolve into your own. 2) Read! This a fantasy medium, as are most other MCRP settings, therefore reading fantasy authors can really help you to capture the essence of a character. Books can expand your vocabulary (keep a list of interesting words you come across, to use later). My recommendations are: The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Inkheart by Cornelia Funke A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling The Wildkin’s Curse by Kate Forsyth Master of the Grove by Victor Kelleher 3) Write, whenever you are able. Make journal entries from the perspective of your character, write short, creative writing pieces about them. Even writing fanfiction about your favourite book series can help, because it will get you in the practice of writing in a way that enables the reader to visualise a scene. Being a good roleplayer isn’t about winning, or even about having the longest, most detailed emotes. It’s about crafting a character that others enjoy roleplaying with, who interacts with the environment in a way that is fluid. Let others impact you, and allow your character to impact others. Five: Humanise the opposition On LotC, communities and individuals go head to head all the time. When it is kept entirely to roleplay, these conflicts and tousles can be enjoyable— a little competition never hurts. But what I have found increasingly obvious is that roleplay conflicts almost never remain in RP. If you find yourself getting into toxic opposition with someone, firstly, take a step back. And if you want to resolve something, take it to voice. This can be moderated by staff if need be, but actually talking to someone and hearing their voice as opposed to seeing words on a screen helps you to understand that it is a real person who you are speaking to with real experiences, problems, and history. This is a game, and we are here to have fun. Get into a channel and talk it out, and if it’s still irresolvable after that, stay away from one another or take it to staff. I now have a few messages that I would like to share. To Aegrothond— We've created something beautiful, building an entire community from the ground up. Continue being kind to one another, and don't lose sight of the reason why Aegrothond was created: so that people could have a warm, welcoming environment to roleplay in without harassment or baggage. Don't let go of that, no matter how large the community grows. To the Institute of Healing— Thank you for your patience and perseverance. The amount of people who wanted to come and learn how to do healing roleplay astounded me, and I am so pleased with the progress of each and every one of you. With around 30 acolytes and 3 teachers, I hope that most of your characters will choose to continue learning, and some of them will go on to become teachers themselves. The curriculum has been written down and will remain with the current teachers, but I also hope to be posting some of the material I’ve been sitting on over the next couple of weeks. To Fenn, Agnarum, Vira’ker and Brandybrook— It’s been so much fun roleplaying with you guys, you all have great communities which I hope will continue to grow. I continue to be impressed by how different each group is, but how everything works together so perfectly. To the Staff and Administration— Thank you for volunteering your time to keep this server up and running. I know that, for many people, this is a place they call home, where they have made real friendships. This community should be one that has zero tolerance for hatred, bigotry, or bullying, and I hope that through staff reforms and continuing care, you can begin to return LotC to a place where roleplay is considered paramount. Kia Kaha, Kia Maia, Kia Manawanui. 39 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkee 7356 Share Posted March 21, 2019 you’re a good person, toffee. i hope you enjoy what life has to offer stay in touch! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonofTaters 470 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Thank you for everything Toffee. The community you’ve helped build is amazing, and being able to be a part of the institute is as well. We love you, and we’ll miss you! I wish you the very best with everything you do Toffee! ❤️❤️❤️ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deer__ 528 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Damn leaving? I know we’ve had our ups and our huge down but I wish only the best for you toffee. Hit me up sometimes. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThumperJack 923 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Goodbye toffee! You’ve always been a wonderful, amazing person to talk to and hang out with on discord and in roleplay, and I hope everything goes well for you. Have a good one ❤️ We all love ya lots 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waibiao 372 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Je zal worden gemist, maar niet vergeten! You’ve been a really good friend to Fenn and myself Toffee, and I hope from the bottom of my heart that everything goes well from here on. I’m sure it goes without saying that @ThumperJack and I, along with other interested members of the Fenn community will help to carry on your legacy of healing and tolerance. I’ve not finished my RP learning on Herbalism, but I’m making it a point to try and get back into the swing of things so I can someday teach and spread the knowledge you’ve been so gracious as to share with me. Anyway, I can’t say that I won’t feel a bit down in the dumps about you leaving, but goodbyes don’t last forever eh? Take care Toffee. Ito nae elannil’Wyrvun, ah’llir. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigergiri 2859 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Ill miss you toffee! You were always so kind and helpful towards me and I wish everyone else shows you teh same kindness and regard you have shown myself. I wish you the best in life and where ever it takes you. If you ever just want to chat im always here. ❤️ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telanir 6432 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I truly looked forward to your contributions here and seeing your name crop up more and more was uplifting and encouraging. You’re an openly genuine person and I appreciate how rare that quality is. Toffee, I wish you all the best and I’m sad we must lose you. I hope you find success in the future and some free-time opens up, I hope you will be impressed when you return! Take care. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvoo 562 Share Posted March 21, 2019 Can’t say I ever had the chance to meet you, but I hope that your life is filled with amazing experiences, wherever it takes you. Stay safe out there, friend. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
excited 10833 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Farewell,@Toffee, it was my sincerest pleasure to have known you and you are not only an exemplary role-player but a kind-hearted person as well to whom I owe many great conversations and memories. I still lurk here once in a while and we aren’t on the greatest of terms, but I would be remiss if I didn’t still pour my heart out to you and all the others affected by this insidious tragedy that has befallen New Zealand and its people. The path to recovery is not fast and I have no doubt that the pain you and the others living there feel is something that cannot be described by words; it is wounding just the same to be so close to an incident involving the detestable and sheerly inconceivable acts that occurred that day during a time that is meant for prayer, introspection, and self-evaluation. What happened there should never be allowed to happen again, and I’ve no doubt that everybody in the international community at large is at the very least taking steps to prevent further rampages from ever happening again. I digress however since the others here have said much of the same and most likely far more articulately than I could hope to put into words. I think you are a very intelligent individual and you will be able to surmount any difficulties that get in the midst of your goals, whether that is higher education or even things in your personal life. Times I spoke to you and @Deer__ are things I still remember like it was yesterday, and they are some of the fondest memories I have from LoTC. If you’d ever like to talk again, hmu, but otherwise I hope you have a nice life on the outside. I’ll leave a couple of books I recommend for you and others to consider picking up. These are perhaps on the darker side in some areas, but definitely among some of the most human stories I’ve come across, with much depth and applicability to life. Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay The Greek Myths by Robert Graves Of Mice and Men & The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, perhaps even The Pearl as well. As for books in Sci-Fi or Fantasy, I suggest these. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis Ender’s Game & Speaker For The Dead by Orson Scott Card The Apothecary by Maile Meloy So long, and thanks for all the fish! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScreamingDingo 16799 Share Posted March 22, 2019 @Toffee Good luck with endeavors outside of LotC, I understand the repurcussions of the attack would have been monumental for you, especially it being so close to home for you. As we did occasionally talk and interact, I wish you the very best. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEEGK 1253 Share Posted March 22, 2019 damn my ***** went offline ? please dont remove this toffee ill miss you so much hope i can talk to you later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nectorist 7347 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Al mal tiempo, buena cara. Though we didn’t talk often, you always left me with a good impression. I would wish you luck, but I don’t think you’re one who’ll need it. You’ve got what it takes to be successful, so make the most of the life you have. See you around, hobbit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaelan 1916 Share Posted March 22, 2019 You better be staying in Aureon chat!!! Or we’ll be finding a way to get into your discord and accept an invite link that way!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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